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The 2022 film “Triangle of Sadness,” directed by Ruben Östlund, surprisingly charmed the Oscars. It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, despite featuring a lengthy scene of ship-wide vomiting. The plot of “Triangle of Sadness” is straightforward yet cruel. It centers around a group of affluent but clueless individuals, such as Instagram influencers and Russian oligarchs, who embark on a wild luxury yacht cruise. The ship’s crew must cater to the whims of these wealthy patrons, disrupting regular ship operations.
However, when the weather turns nasty and the yacht begins to rock violently, a high-class dinner party turns into a nauseating disaster. Despite the crew’s bravery, the spectacle of wealthy people throwing up all over themselves as their toilets overflow is a comedic highlight.
When the ship is beached on an unknown desert island, the rich survivors are lost without survival skills. They resort to fighting over pretzel bags rescued from the wreckage. The only skilled survivalist, Abigail (Dolly de Leon), becomes the de facto leader.
It’s easy to draw parallels between the “Triangle of Sadness” characters and those from Sherwood Schwartz’s 1964 sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.” However, the former portrays a far grimmer and more sinister version of the latter.
Drawing Parallels: Triangle of Sadness and Gilligan’s Island
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Sherwood Schwartz’s “Gilligan’s Island” was described by its creator as a whimsical sitcom that mirrors an idealized American democracy. The seven main characters, representing diverse classes, manage to cohabitate on a deserted island. Despite the humorous premise, there’s a subtle critique of class disparity.
Most notably, the wealthy Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) realizes his wealth is meaningless on a deserted island. The story underscores the fact that in survival situations, material wealth is irrelevant.
Unlike Schwartz’s optimistic view, Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness” presents a darker critique of class. He portrays the affluent as reckless, and it’s their incompetence that leads to the shipwreck. Once stranded, the laborers are the only ones with the power to survive.
In essence, “Triangle of Sadness” is a grimier version of “Gilligan’s Island,” with Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) as the sole power player and Gilligan (Bob Denver) as her unwitting servant.
Character Comparisons between Triangle of Sadness and Gilligan’s Island
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If we consider Abigail as a more assertive and provocative version of Mary Ann, and Carl as Gilligan, we can identify more character parallels between “Triangle of Sadness” and “Gilligan’s Island.” For example, the naive influencer Yaya (Charlbi Dean) is a modern version of Ginger (Tina Louise).
Interestingly, there is no equivalent of the Professor (Russell Johnson) in “Triangle of Sadness.” The Professor was a key figure in “Gilligan’s Island,” using his intelligence and engineering skills to aid survival. In contrast, “Triangle of Sadness” lacks any character with such enthusiasm for knowledge and practical skill.
In this grim situation, Abigail recognizes that she is surrounded by entitled fools. She refuses to revert to a subservient role and instead, everyone else becomes her servant.
Unfortunately, Sherwood Schwartz passed away in 2011 and didn’t get to see Östlund’s darker spin on his beloved sitcom. However, he might have been amused by this satirical take on his creation, demonstrating that even a lighthearted, three-hour tour can transform into a comedic critique of societal hierarchy.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
